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A football match in the northern Tajik town of Istaravshan had to be abandoned after a massive brawl broke out on the pitch.

On November 8, Dushanbe-based Energetic arrived in the northern town for a national championship game against the local club, Istaravshan. The guests scored first, but Istaravshan players then pressed for most of the second half before finally getting the equalizer on the 81st minute of the game.

According to Tajikistan's Football Federation [ru], the hosts’ equalizer angered Energetic players who felt the goal had to be disallowed. After the referee sent off two players from the guest squad for ‘unsporting behavior', he was attacked by several players. The incident quickly erupted into a brawl involving the both squads and then into total chaos as crowds of Istaravshan fans invaded the pitch. Match officials then had to call off the game.

This is a shame for all of Tajikistan. Even without this, we are portrayed all over the world as paint brushes and trowels, and now we shame ourselves even more. How is it possible that a High League game ends in such a mess? Why do football players believe that this kind of behavior is permissible? I don't understand why police couldn't do anything.

Football in Tajikistan is politics. Who heads the Football Federation? President's son. Whose football club always wins? The club of the president's son. Too much politics. And everyone knows that our referees can be bought and sold. This is clear in every match. Football players and fans are not idiots, they see everything. This is why they are all angry and ready to explode at any moment.